Knights wrap 2026 season with postseason banquet

By Sam Peterson
Grant County Herald

The 2026 campaign for the WCA officially came to an end when the team hosted their postseason banquet June 14. After one of the longest playoff runs in recent memory, there was plenty for the Knights to celebrate and recognize after this season.

WCA finished the regular season with a 10-9 overall record. The Knights also finished 6-6 as one of the smallest schools in the West Central Conference to come in fifth.

The Knights earned the three seed in the Section 6A tournament and won their first three games to make it to the section finals before losing to New York Mills to come one game short of state. It was the deepest playoff run since 2018.

WCA also set new program marks up and down the roster this season. As a team, the Knights racked up a school record 21 homers this season. Madison Fagre set a new mark with 12 career triples and Lily Mahoney is now the strikeout queen with 387 career strikeouts.

WCA finished with three players earning West Central Conference awards. Nora Anderson and Izzy Puchalski were both All-Conference and Brinley Ulrich was Honorable Mention.

At the banquet, the Knights also presented their team awards. Puchalski earned the All Around MVP, Brinley Ulrich was the Offensive MVP, Ashlyn Lohse was the Defensive MVP and Aidan Porter won the MVP Teammate Award. The Most Improved Award went to Ella Mickelson. Lohse, Breanna Bennett and Hannah Olson earned the Perfect Attendance Award.

WCA not only excelled on the field, but were leaders in the classroom with seven players earning Academic All-State, including: Nora Anderson, Lily Mahoney, Izzy Puchalski, Madison Fagre, Aidan Porter, Alexa Exe and Sydnie McNally.